DRIBBLY yellow lines painted in Ashburton town centre have made the place look like an 'inner city', according to one irate trader.

Michael Tidball, who runs Tidballs greengrocers in East Street with his brother Jonathan, described the workmanship as 'absolutely disgraceful'.

'They came down on Monday night and did them. The lady above Gifts and Galleries heard them, they woke her up at midnight. It looks like they've used no lighting and done them in the dark, paint dribbling down the kerb stones. It looks like an inner city. It's absolutely disgraceful.'

Town clerk John Germon promptly halted the work and asked town councillors to take a look for themselves.

'It does look very messy, quite unsightly. It was agreed by the town council that the lines would be replaced but I don't think they quite realised the impact it would have.'

Double yellow lines are being painted in the town centre because traders complained bitterly that motorists were ignoring the more discreet no parking zone signs and clogging up the streets.

On top of that, kerb markings are being painted at 6ft intervals to indicate no loading and no disabled parking.

The town centre did originally have double yellow lines but went over to the less visually intrusive no parking zone signs after the town centre was refurbished in 2004.

'The town council was originally in favour of the zoned area, which involved there being no lines but due to demand from the public and traders agreed to have the yellow lines reinstated,' Mr Germon said.

Mayor Cllr Donald Distin who inspected the work on Tuesday night was distinctly unimpressed.

'The children from the primary school could have done better. It looks like a rush job with no pride in the work and in my opinion the contractor should not be paid.

'The kerbs were painted – or botched for a better word – in order to comply with traffic regulations. The council have asked the contractor to stop until the town council have discussed the matter further.'

A spokesman for Devon CountyCouncil said: 'The scheme is still work in progress and the kerb markings are yet to be completed, but our contractor has rectified any initial markings which were not up to standard. The contractor will ensure that all of the work is up to standard on completion.'